Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-01
A Reporter On An officers
Trail.
THE RESULT OF THE TOUR.
A WOman's Baggage Searched
and Her Arrest for Grand
Larceny.


moment to commit almost any crime
in the calendar. Last Thursday eve
ding Detective Afford became apprised
of the fact that during the week no
less than three gold watches had been
Gifted" from visitors to Mother
Browns house of ill fame on CONNER
cial street. He Immediately went to
work on the case disguised as a
Hoosier, which part well fitted
him. A HERALD reporter hap
pened to pass him on Spring
street, and recognized him by his po-
liceman's walk. The scribe travelled
to his room as fast as his legs could
carry him, and jumped into an old
pair of overalls, a sombrero, and dec
GRATED his face with a long flowing
beard, among the hairs OF which he
scattered a few sprays Of alfalfa which
added to the general greenness of his
make up. He then overlook the de-
tective, and unknown to that high Of
fetal he dogged his footsteps down to
Mother Browns house. The officer
fell up against the door and rolled up
stairs in true Hoosier style. He was
barely seated when the reporter fell
in upon him with that stagger and
husky murmurings which only re-
porter can affect. The detectives eyes
opened as the scribe rolled down upon
a spacious lounge in the parlor, and,
with his back to the officer and the
soiled doves roasted around, appar-
emily went to sleep. In few mo-
ments the drinks were called for, and
old Mother Brown waddled into the
room with smile which would do
credit to veteran barkeeper. The
gang endeavored to arouse the
slumbering scribe. When the
liquids were disposed OF and
the women had left the
room save one Florence Wilson, who
remained in her seat upon the parlor
table, the detective sauntered over
to her and squatted down beside her
with the ease and grace of an elephant.
At this stage of the game the reporter
thought it advisable to fall on the
floor and wake up. He then staggered
out into the hallway and dug up the
Chinaman who does the chores
around the house. A bribe of dollar
(borrowed money! had the desired
effect, and the mongol led the reporter
to the Wilson woman's room. 1t took
but a moment to measure his length
under the bed, and there he laid,
patiently beating his head against the
bed sllts, waiting for the detec-
tive and the woman to put
in an appearance. The officer must
have gone for search warrant, for it
was at least two hours before he re-
turned. He entered the room, and
after surveying the surroundings he
informed the woman that sit became
his painful duty to search her bag
SMy God!" she exclaimed, 81 was
going to Santa Monica tomorrow, and
have all my traps neatly packed.
Has lady got to subject herself to
the indignity of being searched for a
lot of old watches lost by some non
entity?"
"That's what" said the officer,
and without further ceremony
he demanded the keys to her
trunks, which were handed
over. In moment the largest OF the
three trunks in the room was opened
and as the scribe poked his head up
from under the bed, his sight became
dazzled at the array Of fine brocaded
satins which were spread out to full
view on top of the box. Slowly but
surely the rubbish was piled out in a
heap on the floor, after having first
been carefully examined by the ex-
x.,,al~ 80 tho offioor 0raacQS
hats without number, innumerable
cloaks, china tea sets, toilet pieces,
towels, looking glasses, and all the
gaudy paraphernalia OF a woman
of the town were piled IN
heap on the floor, just in the way OF
the line of vision OF the re-
porter under the sleeper. In
that trunk a ladies gold watch,
a gentleman's gold watch and
chain, four sets of earrings, twenty
breastpins, several gentlemen's scarf
pins and valuable pair Of vases were
unearthed. The detectives eyes
plistened with pleasure as he gently
fondled the plunder greatly to the dis
satisfaction of the unfortunate wo-
man sitting beside him. The other
trunks were searched and lot OF
clothing supposed to have been
stolen was found. The woman
strenuously denied that she had
become possessed Of the prop
erty unlawfully. While the officer
was pulling at his mustache an old
bald-headed fellow with a sickly
smile poked his head in at the
doorway. He told the officer that he
knew that she had stolen watch OF
his valued at 5000 on "Wednesday,
night, besides having relieved him OF
5000 in money. He was requested 10
20 to Justice Austin's court and swear
ont a warrant against the woman foI
grand larceny. He did as he was told
and in few moments she was safely
lodged in jail. :,
About a year ago the Wilson woman
came to Los Angeles in company with
q wealthy man, and rented q
house on Second street, near the
end of the cable road. She hung ou'
a sign which read: "Mrs. Florence
Wilson, Portrait Painter" She was
rewarded with plenty Of work, but FOL
some reason her lover became es
tranged and left. She Immediately
broke up housekeeping and adopted
life of shame, which she has since
led.
Before coming to Los Angeles sh,
was the mistress of man named Mil
ler, at San Antonio, Texas. Her es
capades compromised him Their
and she packed up her trap
and came to Los Angeles
Many letters from him were found il
her trunk, breathing the warmestsen
timents of love and speaking in en-
dearing terms of "our baby" Whel
the woman left the house the reporte
crawled out from his hiding place an
after investing another dollar wit
A. Chinaman to be brushed off, stol